Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

How Do You Deal With Negative Feedback From Family,friends,coworkers About Being Banded?



Recommended Posts

I've told my parents, sister and an older cousin

(who is also overweight).

Sadly, the only one who has not told me that i took the easy way out (Mom)or that i'm not loosing fast enough (dad) or that i'm not going to succeed (sister) has been my older cousin since we have both had weight struggles all of our lives.

The few friends i have told have been surprisingly supportive and even know of more people my age (24) that have had the surgery.

In the end in know that i did this for me,

so that one day i can be healthy and not have to shop at specialty stores

or be concerned when i'm dating, or getting ready to start a family.

I still have issues with self doubt, but i'm working threw them.

=)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I only told my husband and daughter and no one else. I didn't feel like dealing with people's opinions.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

WOW ! all i can say is if im ever in a war i want all of you in the foxhole with me ! (especially you Cocobean ! You go girl !!) i love how everybody is so supportive of each other and how we really encourage each other to be strong and make good decisions. I told my family and they were 100 % supportive. I kept it low key but open at work and also got 100% support and it has continued since got banded 3 months ago,(down 30 lbs, several nice compliments, woohoo !!) i got a few normal , healthy questions about how the band worked, but nothing remotely negative. Im pretty outgoing, funny and positive anyway, (my glass is usually half full) so as i think people saw me discuss it in a positive way to get healthy, they reacted the same way. Pure support ! So if you have to deal with the haters, just realize they're either ignorant or need to put someone down to feel better about themselves. It's not about YOU, its about how they negativly feel about THEMSELVES !!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Same way I dealt with haters before I got skinny: your opinion would be best kept to yourself. The constant compliments I get far outweigh the negative ones. People are surprised when I do tell them but I also usually share that I've lost 60 pounds since last may, more than halved my triglyceride count and have almost all normal blood values. A far cry from last year.

Bottom line: the decision to get banded is a medical decision that is best left between you and your physicians. The naysayers would hate on you if you didn't make the choice to take control of your weight. Now they have a different thing to pick on. They will move on eventually. Until then keep your chin up!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The only person that knows, outside of my doctors, is my husband. I am a very private person by nature and don't share much of my medical history with anyone. I also knew that this would be a journey that I needed to feel positive and good about to be successful and negative remarks were certainly going to have me feeling bad about myself and would affect me. Fortunately for me I have lost about 100 lbs in the past (of course gained it all back plus some) so family and friends know I can get it off....so I haven't had any questions about my weight loss....only difference this time is that I will never regain it.

Unfortunately people who do not have weight issues have no idea what we go through. I am always amazed when I hear that wls is a cheat....a cheat at what? Losing weight to stay healthy? Better quality of life? Cocobean said it all very well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I put a post out to my friends and family via Facebook initially when I was considering the surgery. I of course got a lot of feedback. No one said they thought it was good idea, everyone said that I could do it on my own, or that I didn’t need surgery.

Most of them didn’t know that I was at risk for a heart attack, had high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. All they knew was that I was “big”.

After I was approved for surgery I told everyone that I was having it. I got a lot of supportive comments but I also got several private messages about why I was doing it or people offering to help me lose weight without the surgery.

I’ve been strong since then and very open. At this point I would just tell someone to kiss my ass if they have something bad to say. They don’t know you and they don’t know what you’ve been through.

Being fat is something that a skinny person will never understand unless they have been there…

Check out my blog for more information on my Lapband Journey:

http://sarahclover7.blogspot.com/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The only person that knows, outside of my doctors, is my husband. I am a very private person by nature and don't share much of my medical history with anyone. I also knew that this would be a journey that I needed to feel positive and good about to be successful and negative remarks were certainly going to have me feeling bad about myself and would affect me. Fortunately for me I have lost about 100 lbs in the past (of course gained it all back plus some) so family and friends know I can get it off....so I haven't had any questions about my weight loss....only difference this time is that I will never regain it.

Unfortunately people who do not have weight issues have no idea what we go through. I am always amazed when I hear that wls is a cheat....a cheat at what? Losing weight to stay healthy? Better quality of life? Cocobean said it all very well.

boy oh boy.. . i can identify so much with this post... thank you for saying it like i would say it. i dont need any negativity to get in the way of this way of life ive entered into.. thanks for posting. (( hugs ))

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      Just been waiting until time for my consult with my bariatric surgeon. It's scheduled for Jan 9th. Turns out I won't actually be seeing him. Apparently it'll be with his P.A.             Not sure what to expect. I thought this is where the surgeon would discuss the best surgery option for me. For years I had my heart set on the sleeve, but I've read so many people have issues with reflux - even if they've never had it before - that they've had to be revised to the bypass. I already deal with GERD & take 40 mg of Omeprazole daily, so I started studying about bypass and honestly, it seems like it might be the better choice for me. How can we discuss surgery options if the surgeon is not there?
      What happened at your first consult? Trying to get an idea of what to expect, or maybe I should say, what NOT to expect.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • rinabobina

      I would like to know what questions you wish you had asked prior to your duodenal switch surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • cryoder22

      Day 1 of pre-op liquid diet (3 weeks) and I'm having a hard time already. I feel hungry and just want to eat. I got the protein and supplements recommend by my program and having a hard time getting 1 down. My doctor / nutritionist has me on the following:
      1 protein shake (bariatric advantage chocolate) with 8 oz of fat free milk 1 snack = 1 unjury protein shake (root beer) 1 protein shake (bariatric advantage orange cream) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein bar 1 protein shake (bariatric advantace orange cream or chocolate) 1 snack = 1 unjury protein soup (chicken) 3 servings of sugar free jello and popsicles throughout the day. 64 oz of water (I have flavor packets). Hot tea and coffee with splenda has been approved as well. Does anyone recommend anything for the next 3 weeks?
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        All I can tell you is that for me, it got easier after the first week. The hunger pains got less intense and I kind of got used to it and gave up torturing myself by thinking about food. But if you can, get anything tempting out of the house and avoid being around people who are eating. I sent my kids to my parents' house for two weeks so I wouldn't have to prepare meals I couldn't eat. After surgery, the hunger was totally gone.

    • buildabetteranna

      I have my final approval from my insurance, only thing holding up things is one last x-ray needed, which I have scheduled for the fourth of next month, which is my birthday.

      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BetterLeah

      Woohoo! I have 7 more days till surgery, So far I am already down a total of 20lbs since I started this journey. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NeonRaven8919

        Well done! I'm 9 days away from surgery! Keep us updated!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×